The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-12-30

continuously up and down the stairs for two
hours and half, and said "Poor girl, poor
girl" and had a secret conference with Mr.
Goode as to the advisability of having ply
sician in the morning at their mutual ex-
pense "and say nothing about IL, sir, to any
one" But was better the next morning;
changed for the better with the summer
weather which came in, bright and fine and
hot, and suggested holidays out Of town and
by the great greon sea for the lucky folk who
could afford to spend their money.
Lily Brian and her mother and father and
two gawky brothers whom did not like very
much, and thirteen small members of the
family were all going out Of town, and
why not come with usr' Lily had said,
kindly.
My answer was a very old one, and verv
natural and very truthful, too.
"Because I cannot afford e. Lilyn
"Oh, bother the money" said Lily.
That's what often say myself
ut shall cost you next to nothing-hardly
anything" Lily suggested. "Papa SAYS YOU
will only have to pay for a room somewhere.
and you can board with US, and, OH dear, it
will be awfully jollyl"
"1ts very kind of your papa, and-and III
think of 1t, Lily, at any rate"
And make up your mind and say 'yes,'n
cried Lily-''won't you, Janer'
II don't know
"That fright of q captains going some
where, know" Lily said, land Mr.. Goode
has got free pass down the line, you tell me,
and he's sure to go into the country with so
little to pay for it; it's just like him. And do
think Of it, Jane there's lovel'
did think of it. Thought of Mr.. Brian's
large family, eighteen Of them altogether,
and whether it was possible could intrude
gracefully upon them. Mr. Brian had retired
from a cocoanut fiber and street door mat
business in the Tottenham Court road, and
was pretty well Off, with only slight neces.
sity OF letting his drawing room floor He
was evidently not a rich man, and there
were few struggles to "keep up an appear
ance,n although he went out of town with his
family for a month every summer, by ex-
press desire Of Mrs, Brian, who required
change every August, and regularly sailed
forth, en- famille, from her large establish
ment in Prossiter street to house down a
back slum in High street, Margate, where the
rooms were small, aud the children were
heaped together sardine fashion, and now
and then came back with something CATCH
ing" as wind up to the seasons enjoyment
And this particular August was asked to
join them There was the sea, and 'You
must take little change said the doctor,
and Lily Brian was very pressing, and Capt
Choppers had talked of going away for a
week or two, and the boys Goode were COM
ing home for the holidays, and !, Jane Neild,
was able to pay-and would insist upon pay
ing-my fair share for board with the Bri-
ans, having my little room out of the house,
too, for that peace and quietness which is not
always found in large families Yes, would
go down to Margate when was strong
when was well enough to bear the fatigue
OF the journey.
This was promise on the day the Brians,
with much formalty of departure left town
for the season, and made up my mind to get
well and strong as soon as possible, and joip
them. When was down stairs again in my
little back room there was great surprise
awaiting me. Nailed against the wall under
my fathers cabinet sized photograph, was
brand new ornaments little carving in oak
of dead bird hanging by its claws down
ward, and with every feather wonderfully
delineated. / stared at it with intense as
tonishment, and Bridget stood in the back
ground with grin ON her face from ear to
ear.
"Where did this come FRONT Good
gracious how beautiful! how--well never
didr
My thoughts flashed to Mr.. Goode, for he
was liberal at times, and grateful for any lit
tie attentions in his widowerhood's estate in
the shape of darning stockings or re-estab-
fishing the security of buttons; but the truth
soon came out, and then / was more aston
ished than ever.
"H you please, MN, it's the young mau
who lost his umbereller," explained Bridget
with loud guffaw at last and violent
stamping OF both her big Irish feet, like ali
excitable person with bone in her throat.
"What"
"Yes, m'm,n continued Bridget; land |
was to say nothing about it to anybody but
you-and not till you were down stairs again
because he wouldn't have you worried
about anything, he said, not for worlds"
"He said all thatp
"Yes, MN"
"But, bless the man." | exclaimed, ''what
has he left this here forf
"1ts-its prisent, mm I'm thinking
"a present to me, and from that impert
nent beingl" said; an see about his pres
ent presently. When did he GOMEZ"
Hes been here every day, MIN"
Every dayr
Twice day." Bridget replied. "And
the day you were so i'll he came three times,
to make sure the doctors weren't killing
you"
''It's very extraordinary"
"He is 'stronary, m'm,n asserted Bridget
"shure, and there's not much doubt of it,
The way he axed me and badgered me about
that umbereller, MN, every day after you
were took i'll, you'd have thought he was u
judge and jury rolled into one-and Sarah,
too, poor critter.n
81 never heard of such behavior in nv
life"
Fright We are, Miss Neild, as far as that
goes but when Sarah bust out crying at last
he was very sorry and gave her 'arf a crown;
and so he did me, MN, like real gentleman,
when thought it was quite time | cried
too, when 'arf crowns were flying about like
that"
"Thatll do, Bridget said, for Bridget
when loquacious was familiar. when vas
he here lastr
'This morning."
"Indeed"
"And ! told him you were quite come
round, and he said, That's good job and
went away"
'Do you think he'll returnr'
81 don't think so, MN, for he said, Good
by, Bridget; mind you take care of her. as
he walked hisself off"
did he say anything elsei'
"N-no, MN, don't seem to recollectn-
"Answer me truthfully, Bridget what else
did he sayin
'Sorry word, else, except he hoped Mar
gate would do you power of good"
How did he know l was going to Mar
gatef / inquired.
That's more nor mortal can say, MIN.
He knows a great deal more about other
peoples affairs than he ought, He interferes
like, doesn't hei He's a terrible curious young
man"
bridget, you have something more to tell
pe, I'm sure you have.n
"Ohl Miss Neild."
How dare you deceive mel how daren--
Mercy on us, my dear mistress, don't go
AID throw yourself all the way back agin by
faring of like this III tell ye evrything,
and it's not much, after all, il yen only keep
cool and comfor'blen
"Well-go ON
And ye may give me a months warning
and send me away afterward, if yen only be
cool, miss and don't blame me too much Jest
atErisint,"
why don't you explainf
well, then, he took it into his head Mr..
Goode had got his umbereller or else Capt.
| Choppers, and one day, when they were both
out, he axed me to let him look into their
rooms, and did, m'm-and, begorra, /
| shouldn't have been surprised II either of 'en
had got it, name souls that they are with
never kind word to those who are shaving
| their hearts out for 'em, and
Bridget, go downstairs directly
ITO be sure, MN, will If ye don't want